Wednesday, October 24, 2012

There are some simple dishes that have a very stylish look and may seem difficult to prepare. Omelettes, a guest star of American brunches, may belong to this category. Simple as they are, though, there are a few points that one should get right in order to go from "scrambled-eggs-with-toppings" to a classy, handsome omelette.

A regular omelette is made with two eggs, beaten until their are well mixed, and a little of salt and pepper; to this one can add pretty much anything: cheese, ham, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapeños, etc. Maybe more important than the ingredients is the frying pan: a non-stick one, eight inches wide. If you don't have one like that, please kindly put your computer in sleep-mode and go get one right away.

Why is the size of the frying pan important? The omelette should not be too thin, for it would break apart when being served, nor too thick, or would be raw in the center. An eight-inches pan ensures that the beaten eggs will spread on the surface wide enough to have the proper thickness and have a nice rounded shape. On a wider frying pan you might still get the proper thickness for your omelette, but the shape is much harder to control and you might end up with a sea star or an oversize wonton.

Once you pour the mix on the frying pan -already with a little of olive oil and heated to medium-low temperature- you wait one minute until the mix is cooked on the borders of the disc or "tortilla", and then you scrape and stir softly the center of it, making sure that the still-liquid eggs on top get mixed with the lower layer already cooked. Right before the omelette gets totally cooked, you go ahead and spread the toppings on only one half of the circle. It has to be this way because in one more minute you will fold the no-toppings half over the one with the toppings. Do you see now why it was so important to have a non-stick pan? To fold half omelette over, just carefully slide a plastic spatula underneath (you can use also a large spoon, although you won't look so pro) and push it over the top of the other half in one move. Press down slightly to make the structure earthquake-proof. Let it be for one minute; if you like some kitchen acrobatics, you may want to flip the omelette over tossing it gently up on the air, and then waiting half-minute to make sure is well cooked. All things considered, the omelette should have been on the frying pan for no more than five minutes.

Now for the grand finale, serve the omelette on a warm plate and garnish it with some veggies. I normally use a little of cilantro and tomato, but any edible vegetable with a bright color will serve the purpose: red pepper, parsley, ciboulette, shredded carrot. The point is that as important as the taste and the shape is the colorfulness and the visual appealing of the dish. You can find some illustrations of the process here to help you out. Enjoy!

Diet modification is one way to institute healthy living. Today, citrus extractors and juice squeezers are becoming appealing to the public more than ever especially with the increase of health instructions and awareness distributed by concerned citizens. Drinking fresh fruits and vegetables are very beneficial to the body as it naturally revitalizes the body.

For many, finding the right juicer is a great challenge. As there are many types like the centrifugal juicer, wheat grass extractor, masticating juicer, and twin gear juicer. Surely there are so many things to consider. Following are just some of the things you ought to look out for when selecting which juicer is the right one for you.

Costs of the Juicers

Based on retail price, juicer extractors sell approximately $20 to $300 apiece. They are usually found in local stores chiefly in grocery areas and health food departments. If comparing prices, apparently, electronically types of juice extractors are more expensive as compared to its manual counterpart. Brands and models that provide extra features are more costly. Remember that the more advanced the device is, the more expensive it becomes.

Consider the Type of Juice You Will Be Extracting

Let's compare two of the most common fruits - an apple and an orange. Both of them are delicious fruits. They are popular juice treats especially in hot summer climate. If you are going to compare their texture, you will notice their difference in an instant. Fruits and veggies differ in many ways. Like oranges, there are other fruits that are so soft and contain much juice. While some have a harder structure. Certainly, not all juicers are the same and they may produce different extracts as well. That is why when choosing a juicer, it is important that you know your preferred types of fruits and vegetables so that you can easily narrow down your choices of juicers.

Check the Features and Functions

If you are planning to buy a juicer you need to consider not just the price but the versatility of the juicer. To maximize the use of your juicer, examine if it can make desserts and yummy treats like nut butters or a quick ice cream delight. Read the label or better yet, ask the retailers for the primary functions and key features of the different juicers to check if the product is worthy to buy.

Be Familiar with the Different Types of Juicers

Since there are a handful of juicers available in the market today, it is essential to understand how each one functions.

Centrifugal Juicers

This type of juicer is the most common type and the cheapest as well. It works as it pulverizes the fruits and vegetables against the sharp blade spinners. It is so convenient to use that it significantly reduces food preparation time.

Wheat grass Extractors

For people who want to live green and healthy, this type of juicer is perfect for their chosen lifestyle. You can choose between the manually or mechanically type operated device. Manual juicers are reasonably priced, but they tend to eat your time preparing food for dinner or supper. The electric wheat grass juicer on the other hand, may be costly around $200, but it can produce more juice as compared to the manual type.

Masticating Juicer

Imagine yourself chewing a stick of celery. The masticating juicer works the same as your teeth. The masticating juicer functions by grinding the vegetables and squishes out the juice.

Twin Gear Juicers

Many are satisfied with the twin gear juicers because they are so efficient in squishing out juice. The two interlocking gears that come with it make it all possible. These gears operate by crushing together the fruits and vegetables thus extracting more juice from the fibers. However, the only downside of this type of juicer is that it does not work as effectively as centrifugal juicers when extracting soft fruits like grapes and oranges.

Certainly, there are so many factors to consider when choosing the right juicer. To simplify things, choose the type of juicer that you will absolutely use. It really depends on the type of juice that you will be drinking. Be it a juicer or an extractor it is important to compare the different features of the juice maker to come up with an excellent choice. Surely, you do not want to waste hundreds and thousands of dollars in something not worthy of investing.

The Breville JE900 is perfect for everyday use. It is very powerful. With its smart design technology, it facilitates fast clean up along with easy reassembly. Feel free to contact bestjuicermachinereviews.com for questions concerning and reviews on the various juice makers and extractors today.

I don't know anybody who doesn't love picnic..In my workplace, we have a picnic community, and we always go without empty-handed...We cook, we grill, we bake, all for our picnic plan, seriously.For those picnic lovers, this article is for you, it's simple, easy and most definitely, HEALTHY!! try to swap your regular picnic theme to this one, it's fun and the kids can definitely help!!

(Our Picnic Community on 18092012 - me not in the pic, lah!)﻿

Making a picnic memorable is about having a great time with friends and loved ones. It is about playing, laughing and enjoying. "l'art de vivre!" What a better time than a picnic to enjoy your favorite food and drinks?
I have been enjoying picnics for a long time with fiends and family. I have tried everything from sandwiches to grilled chicken and Indian food in a variety of places. The best picnics are always those in which I made the cooking part of the picnic experience.
Because a successful picnic starts with the right menu, in this article, I will show you four easy recipes that will increase your choices beyond the typical sandwich, cheese and bread. All you need is your ingredients in your picnic basket, the recipe, and you are ready to go! No need to keep anything warm. You will be able to prepare a healthy and fresh meal wherever you go.
Here there are four easy recipes:

(picture for illustration only)﻿

Fresh GuacamoleIngredients:2 avocados
1 medium size tomato
¼ of a small onion
¼ cup of cilantro
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Salt
Preparation:Chop the tomato, onion and cilantro in small pieces. Cut the avocado in half, remove fruit by running a spoon next to the skin. Smash the avocados in a bowl. Add all the ingredients and mix them well.

(picture for illustration only)﻿

Egg-Potato SaladIngredients:3 big potatoes
4 eggs
3 branches of celery
¼ cup of mayonnaise
¼ cup of sour cream
Preparation:Boil the eggs and the potatoes. Cut the potatoes in pieces (medium size). Chop the celery branches. Cut the eggs in half. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

(picture for illustration only)

Cheese GuacamoleIngredients:2 avocados
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ of a small onion
Salt
Preparation:Chop the onion in small pieces. Cut the avocado in half, remove fruit by running a spoon next to the skin. Smash the avocado in a bowl. Add the onion, cheese and salt to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients.

4 oz of mozzarella cheese2 large carrots2 branches of celery¼ cup of mayonnaise¼ cup of sour creamPreparation:Boil the pasta. Cut the carrots, the celery's branches and the mozzarella cheese in small pieces. Add all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.I hope that you will enjoy these recipes sharing with your friends and loved ones in your next picnic experience.

Part of a successful picnic is to have the right gear. Please visit our website for picnic basket, picnic backpack and picnic supplies at http://www.picnicmoments.com

Monday, October 22, 2012

Hi all....I really miss blogging....It's been a while since my last post here...Too many things happened in life.... I've been travelling, working and expanding the business, cooking and lots of stuff are going on since my last post in July 2011.I am happy, though all those stuff are tiring, but I realized that I have to said Thanks to GOD, for making me busy, for I know that I am doing something with my life.While busy making my life worth something, there are things that I have to left behind, well, everybody does. You have to lose some to win some, rite? I am too busy planning and make things works for the business, and expanding the business from cooking to fashion, and so did my husband. There are some friends parties that we can't make it, families occassion that we have to say sorry for not turning up, and gosh!!! I can't even make times for friends who fly back to KL just to hang around....Sounds really selfish, didn't I? (To all those, I am really sorry...)But then, when you lost 2 of your great cousins at young age due to health issues (May Allah blesses their souls), you start thinking, are you living your life the way you want it to be? Life is too short! You should appreciate the people around you more than your work, than your wealth...and, I realize that I miss blogging so much, and ignored all the readers who has been waiting for all the great issues to be posted.I've been on my sick-bed since last Friday night...arghh the fever, coughing and flu are not going away soon...just a small test from Allah and I start to complaining much, where others have suffers worse than I do..masyaallah....so, I take the time to write to all the readers out there, all the good people who has mark something in my life, realizing that without any of you, i mean nothing in this world.Lets take a break for a minute of your great days, said thank you to Allah for making our lives great, for we are here, surrounded by all the good people He has created, and make our life meaningful by cherish others.Keep on reading my blog, I am back, for good....Love all....Leaving u with a quote I shared to many "A man worth, is no greater than his ambitions ~ Marcus Aurelius"Dylla Burn

Good health is essential for a proper lifestyle. This can basically be achieved by the consumption of healthy foods. The body needs particular foods for its growth, immunity and repair. Examples of the healthy foods include apples, sweet potatoes, almonds, broccoli, oat meal, oil fish, blue berries, avocados and green vegetables that are leafy.

Let's take the apples for a start. These fruits have antioxidants that play an important role of eliminating chemicals released in the body which result in early aging and particular diseases. Apples combat free radicals that trigger undesirable changes in the body. They also lower chances of heart diseases in adult females by about 8%.

Almonds on the other hand are rich in nutrients such as magnesium, iron, fiber, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin E. Almonds have a 91-94% unsaturated fatty acid profile which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Moreover, almonds have the highest fiber content when compared to any other tree nut.

Broccoli is rich in sulforphane and the enzyme myrosinase that minimize the risk of cancer development. Broccoli should be lightly steamed to reduce the destruction of the enzyme myrosinase. Phytonutrients present in broccoli reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Other essential components in broccoli are the antioxidant beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin C and folate.

Blueberries have a significant nutritional value. They help reduce the development of diseases such as adipogenesis hypertension and cognitive decline in elderly. Hypertension is controlled by anthocyanins in the berries. Blueberries reduce chances of obesity by controlling the body weight. Intestinal diseases and hardening of arteries are reduced by blueberry consumption.

Oil fish plays a significant role in the nervous system as well as the heart. Arthritis, an inflammatory condition in particular patients, is reduced by oil fish. Moreover, vitamins A and D are obtainable in oil fish. The sole source of oil fish can be in trout, salmon, and mackerel which have it in their gut and tissues. Omega-3 fatty acids are specifically found in lean fillets.

Dark-leafy vegetables like spinach often lower the risk of developing diabetes type 2 when taken in large quantities. Lightly steamed spinach has high antioxidants content. The leafy vegetables are a good source phosphorus, zinc, iron, selenium, potassium manganese niacin, copper, calcium, folic acid, vitamins A, B6, C, E and K.

On the other hand the case for sweet potatoes that contain high content of dietary fiber for proper digestion. They have also other essential nutrients such as beta vitamin C, yellow and pink carotene, complex carbohydrates and vitamin B6. They are mover preferred when compared to other foods.

Ground oat porridge is the sole source of oatmeal. Regular consumption of oatmeal helps in reducing high levels of blood cholesterol. This is because it contains high content of soluble fiber. When oat foods are taken with foods having a low diet, they provide cardiovascular heart benefits. Oats slow down digestion with the help of water-soluble fiber.

Finally, healthy foods are summarized by avocados which help in prevention of oral cancer. They not only stop cells of oral cancer but they also kill some pre-cancerous cells. The levels of cholesterol in blood can be reduced by regular consumption of avocados. Avocado also contains high insoluble fiber and vitamins B, K and E.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Monday is always my busiest day of the week and I seem to run out of time before I know it. Using quick simple easy recipes can still put a good evening meal on my table. I'm sure they will do the same for you.

[1] Ground Round Steaks
Form 4-5 Patties from 1 pound of meat, place in a hot heavy bottom pan, turning only once. When they have reached the doneness you like, remove and place on a lipped platter. Add 1 teaspoon of beef bullion to the pan, then add 1/2 cup water, let it heat as you scrape the bottom to release the stuck on tidbits. If you want to make gravy add a little milk after turning off the heat. Use it to pour over your meat patties or use as a dipping sauce.

Steamed Sliced Potatoes and Green Beans
Wash Potatoes, cut out any blemishes, slice about 1/4 inch thick. Place them in the bottom of a steamer and cook until almost soft. [test with a shape knife] Add drained green beans for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking. Place in bowl and dot with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

[2] Mac and Cheese w/Broccoli
Add 1/2 cup of chopped Broccoli to the cooking pasta about six minutes after the water starts to boil, drain until no water is left in the pasta and broccoli, then add cheese mixture, butter and milk. Stir until pasta is thoroughly covered.

Apple Sauce w/cinnamon
Heat applesauce in the microwave until warm but not hot, add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top and mix. If you applesauce is unsweetened, you may want to make a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar and use it, instead of the straight cinnamon.

[3] Chicken Legs
Coat chicken legs with a mixture of 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and thyme. Place them on a broiler pan and cook in a preheated 375 degree oven for 25 minutes, turning once.

Corn Nibblets
Heat a 12 ounce package of frozen corn in a sauce pan with about 3/4 inch of water. You want enough water to cause steam but do not cover the corn with liquid. When corn is done, drain most of the water off and add room temperature butter. Stir until each kernel of corn is covered in butter. Serve while hot.

Tossed Green Salad
Wash and dry your fresh greens. Chop or tare into small pieces and add to a bowl big enough to toss vegetables. You may add other fresh veggies then toss with a simple vinaigrette dressing.